Match ends, Arsenal 4, Aston Villa 0.
15 May 2016
Arsenal finish second after beating Aston Villa
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League for the first time since 2005 as they beat relegated Aston Villa thanks to an Olivier Giroud hat-trick.
Giroud headed Arsenal ahead early on but the hosts played nervously until he struck again, sweeping home from six yards after good work by Mesut Ozil.
The Frenchman was then put through by Hector Bellerin for his third.
Mark Bunn's own goal, diverting in Mikel Arteta's ricocheted shot, added further gloss to the scoreline.
The comprehensive win ensured Arsenal leapfrogged faltering Tottenham - title contenders only a few weeks ago - after their north London rivals fell apart against Newcastle.
More to follow.
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Arsenal
- 33Cech
- 24Bellerín
- 5Gabriel
- 6Koscielny
- 18Monreal
- 19CazorlaSubstituted forCampbellat 88'minutes
- 34Coquelin
- 10WilshereSubstituted forElnenyat 69'minutes
- 11ÖzilSubstituted forArtetaat 88'minutes
- 17Sánchez
- 12Giroud
Substitutes
- 3Gibbs
- 8Arteta
- 13Ospina
- 16Ramsey
- 28Campbell
- 35Elneny
- 45Iwobi
Aston Villa
- 31Bunn
- 38LydenSubstituted forGrealishat 75'minutes
- 7Bacuna
- 16LescottSubstituted forRichardsat 65'minutes
- 46Toner
- 43Cissokho
- 15Westwood
- 24SánchezBooked at 39mins
- 8Gueye
- 9Sinclair
- 19J Ayew
Substitutes
- 1Guzan
- 4Richards
- 20Traoré
- 25Gil
- 29Hepburn-Murphy
- 39Gestede
- 40Grealish
- Referee:
- Mark Clattenburg
- Attendance:
- 60,007
Match Stats
Home TeamArsenalAway TeamAston Villa
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away6
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 4, Aston Villa 0.
Goal!
Own Goal by Mark Bunn, Aston Villa. Arsenal 4, Aston Villa 0.
Attempt saved. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
Attempt missed. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is too high. Assisted by Francis Coquelin.
Attempt missed. Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mikel Arteta with a through ball.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Joel Campbell replaces Santiago Cazorla.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Mikel Arteta replaces Mesut Özil.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Arsenal).
Attempt saved. Micah Richards (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ashley Westwood with a cross.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Laurent Koscielny.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Leandro Bacuna.
Attempt saved. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a through ball.
Attempt blocked. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Idrissa Gueye.
Foul by Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal).
Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Nacho Monreal (Arsenal).
Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 0. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Héctor Bellerín with a through ball.
Goal!
Goal! Arsenal 2, Aston Villa 0. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
Attempt saved. Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Jack Grealish replaces Jordan Lyden.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Jordan Lyden (Aston Villa) because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Attempt missed. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Idrissa Gueye (Aston Villa).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Jack Wilshere.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Micah Richards (Aston Villa) because of an injury.
Hand ball by Idrissa Gueye (Aston Villa).
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Micah Richards replaces Joleon Lescott.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Joleon Lescott (Aston Villa) because of an injury.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Aly Cissokho.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Santiago Cazorla.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Laurent Koscielny.
Foul by Mesut Özil (Arsenal).
Kevin Toner (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal).
Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa).
Foul by Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal).
Ashley Westwood (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
Joleon Lescott (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
Kevin Toner (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Second Half
Second Half begins Arsenal 1, Aston Villa 0.
Half Time
First Half ends, Arsenal 1, Aston Villa 0.
Foul by Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal).
Jordan Ayew (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Carlos Sánchez.
Booking
Carlos Sánchez (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Mesut Özil (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Carlos Sánchez (Aston Villa).
Attempt blocked. Carlos Sánchez (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Westwood.
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